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A Federal High Court, sitting in Sokoto has reaffirmed Sadiq Isah Achida as the recognised and duly elected chairman of the All Progressives Congress (APC) in Sokoto State.
Delivering its judgement that also recognised the election of other party executives, Justice James Omotosho dismissed the suit filed by the Mainasara- led faction of APC on ground of status bar.
According to him, the suit was filed outside the time line within which it should.
“The case should have been filed within 14 days from the very day the Appellant court judgement which set aside the Abuja High Court judgement on the matter,” he said.
The Presiding Judge also averred the congress that produced the Mainasara-led executive committee was not conducted at the party Secretariat, which is contrary to the provisions of the party’s guidelines.
He stated ” based on the report of the Independent National Electoral Commission, the Achida led executives were the only recognised leadership of the party in the state by the electoral body.”
Justice Omotosho also dismissed the preliminary objection filed by the counsel to Achida that the court lacked jurisdiction to entertain the matter since it was an intra- party affair.
Counsel to the 1st defendant, Jacob Ochidi, expressed gratitude over the judgment, which he described as sound and deserving.
He said the Achida- led exco has been vindicated as the true, recognised elected officials of the Sokoto APC which the Court has confirmed.
The Sokoto APC was divided into two with the Achida’s faction on the side of Senator Aliyu Wamakko and the Mainasara Abubakar Sani’s faction backed by Senator Abubakar Umar Gada.
